Apparatus and method for handling and storing automobiles



May H 1%23.

F. P. DINKELEERG APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING AND STORING AUTOMOBILES Filed August 12. 1922 8 sheausheet 1 May 11; 1926. A A 1,584,080

F. DINKELBERG APPARATUS AND METHOD FORIHANDLING' AND s'roame AUTOMOBILES Filed August 12; 1922 a sheets-sheet 2 May 11 1926.

F P. DINKELB ERG v APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANPLING m STORING AUTOMOBILES Filed August 12. 1922 mwem,

- a Sheet'sSheet 4 9 119mm llfifiwfifi F. P. DINKELEERG APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING AND STORING AUTOMOBILES Filed August 12. 1922. 8 smewwmm 5 (was may m Wm L584fl8 F, F. .DINKELBERG APPARATUS AND-METHOD FOR HANDLING AND STORING AUTOMOBILES Filed Augu'st 12v. 1922 a Shams-Shani e as y Q.

N N TR Q 1 S a) \i"- N Q w a g I 5 May N 1926. 1,584,080

- F. P. DINKELBERG APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING AND STORING AUTOMOBILES Filed August 12. 1922 a sheats sheet v F. P. DINKELBERG MPARATUS AND METHOD FOR-HANDLING AND STORING AUTOMOBILES I Filed August 12. 1922 a Sheets- Sheet 8 Patented May 11, 1926.

FREDERICK r. pmxunianne, or nvnnszron, rumors.

.arra'narus AND 'minrnon r03 HANDLING sronme AnTQMBBELSE v 1,584,080 PATENT-OFFICE. I

' a lication filed August 12, 1922'. Serial No. 581,548.

The'quest-ion of handling and storing automobiles .within a building and with profit to the owner ofthe buildingihas become quite a serious proposition because it has heretofore been necessary to provide notonly space 'for storage purposes but :an entrance and an exit passage must alsobe provided to enable the driver to drive in and out and also manipulate the car so as to drive in or back into the allotted spacey SucliQan operation not only requires skillful manipulation on the part of the driver, but to turn the automobile around, which 1s sometimes necessary, especially. .when the; entrance is also used as the exit, or for. other reasons, any driverother than an expert requires a space of a radius at least greater than twice the length of the car. If a dI1Ve-' \w-av is employed extending around the in- 3 side of the building, considerable valuable space is lost for storage purposes. l-leretos fore with the. prior methods-of storing automobiles it is impossible to place two or more other by moving the cars .sidewise, but to store them necessitates turning'or switching the cars and gradually working them into the allotted space. 'This-op'eration re- .quires time and labor with the attendant adjacent cars. Furthermore to'remove, an

inner ear underthe prior modes of storage necessitates the" removal or shifting of a number of the, surroundlng cars to permit access to the desired car.

It is one of the objectsof the present in vention to overcome these. difficulties and objections and to provide an improved method of storing automobiles in a building, so that a large number of automobiles may be kept ina given floor area, and to provide" an improved apparatus for storing them by means of the use of which the car or automobile may be moved into any positionide sired, either forward or backward or. laterallv without turning the car, therebynot only economizingin space but the heretofore necessary wide driveways and turning spaces will be dispensed with, at the same. time the car maybe placed in theallotted space and can be removed expeditiously and with a minimumamount of labor.

' A further object is-to provide an improved method of storing automobiles'by,meansof the employment of which method the automobiles or cars may be compactly arrangedrows of cars side by side or in front of, each possibility of scratching and marring the building of Fig. 14;

engaging portions of the truck against the placing of the car in storage position.

Theinvention has other objects which are more particularly pointed out in the followmg description.

UReferring, now, to the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of-o'ne form of truck to be used in handling the automobiles;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the truck in position under the automobile and before being brought into engagement therewith; I

v Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2,showingthe engaging ends of the truck moved under the wheels of the automobile so as to lift it;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the truck showing the wheel-engaging parts moved outwardly; v a

Fig- 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.; Fig. 7 is a sectional view 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. -9 is a sectional .view taken on line 9-9 of- Fig.1;

' Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken 10-10 of Fig.1; Fig. 11 is a-sectional view taken 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a-sectional View taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 9;

' Fig. 13 is an enlarged plan view of the track intersections showing the turntable; v

Fig. 14 is a'first floor plan of one form of 1 building in which the automobiles are stored;

Fig. 15 is a typical upper story plan of the I taken on line on line on line on line 0 16 is a view showing the handle and indicator. j

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In carrying out my invention I provide a triiclrwhicli can be placed under the automobile, the ends of the truck then being moved outwardly to 'engagethe wheels and as a result of a further pressure of the wheel peripheries of the automobile wheels, the' automobile willbe lifted fromthe ground or the-surface np'onwhichi'its wheels rest,

whereupon the automobile-can then be easily andquiek1yjm0ved to'aliy oint desired 'either forward-or backward in sidewis'eQ Referring now to'thedraWing- I'haveshown in Fig'sil to .8, inc lusive, one :form of truck forthis purpose truck; be' i -low s'oas to go under the automobile and must also be strong and capable of-easy handling, In theconstruction shown thetruck is provided with a main frame-or body" portion ,1, upon which is mounted thermoy able end portions 2. 1 These end portions have wheel-engaging parts and? means s provided for mov ng these wheelsengaglng parts underthe wlieelsf'after the'tituck is placed under the, a1-1tomobileQ" The 'wheel engagingfpartspreferablyhai einclined upper faces, and I also prefer to provide them.

with pivoted wheel-engagin oted at 3"f(see. Fig. 7). I These parts may :thenmove down'when vthey""engage' the wheels, so asnot to injure the tires lm; the wheel-engag1ng paltsare pushed under the wheels. These -.pivoted parts are desirable because of the fact that the WheeIQengaging whichare'supportcdnpon the-main frame 1 so .as to,slide therealong, This main frame parts-3must be aboir'ethe floonso as -to liftf the automobile 'a'. sutlicient helghtto clearthe floor. :In.tl1ei:constr11ction shown, the

movable end portionsare proyided'with the supporting and controlling arms/L and 5,

l'may be made up inlany desired form or shape. As herein shown, it hasthe two side members 6 and 7. These, side members have suitable receiving spaces in whlch are re 'eciye'd the supportin fand' controlling arms 4 and 5. Some snita 1e mechanism 1s; pro'-. yided for mov ng these" arms 1n and out. as." -des1red, sa1d arms moyln'g on the frictionrollers ifif; j V a Asherein shown, the arms 4 are provided with racks/81nd thearms5with racks 9.

Pinions 10 engage the teeth'8 of supports 4, and ithe-pinions 11 engage the teeth 9. of supports-5." These pinions mesh with a gear 12' arranged so that, as the gear 12 is 1'0- tated, the pinions 10 and 11 will be rotated in opposite directions, so as to move the arms 4 and 5 in opposite directions (see Figs-4 -and. 5)'.= The gears 12 areoperatively connected with the gears 13 (see Figs. 1 and The gears 13 mesh-with aeent'ral gear 14, which is operatively connected with the m0- tor-15. Int-he construction shown,-the gear 14 has internal-teethlG forming an internal gear, and this internal. gears-engages the pinion 17 (see Figsfll and 9).; The pinion' 17 is adapted to, be connectedto a shaft 18 operatively connected with the motor 's hait in any suitable manner, as by means of the worm wheel 19' and theworm 20. The-worm wheel 19,15 feathered to the shaft 18 the r j keys :30 lwhichwork in grooyes in -the huh v ed-n ngaglngprqection or projecwardly position shownin Figure 9 7 is rotating whenever the meter is rotating,

-of theworlnwheel so tlia't l eshaftl may wormrwheel 1;,19 withouizirdisconne'cting "the "ro idedi'ior"c natjff I h i mf I r 4 ting f t-he v :mQVabi'Q'eIid; p e 5 'iinand 0601;;- the ,constiuction herein heen fisac'comphshedby makiii theshaft pngitudinall'ymovable with r17, suclt shaft-being proand 11),which fit into i a le recess-or recessesin the gear 17.

\Vhl'l the shaft 18' is moved into the position shownf in'jFigure the projection or projecti giiisflliwillghe disconnected from the gear-17. and =the movable end or wheel en- 'gnging. cpoi tions be disconnected from the motor 15.: the shaft 18 ismo ved up- }he ro'ection-jor ro'ections 21willen 'a' 'c in the of; the-gear 17 and thereby connest the moyabl 1d, gaging portion of; .f The shaftin The shatt "18 may I be? rolled in any do "red manner, Ashereiri showinztliis I andis feathered to the {worms-wheel- 19 50 that it may be s'lidback and girth-in the of'such worm wheel whilejbotlilitl wheeland thejshafti 18 are l tifiltfin shown'in Fig. there is' a groove'd. eollar.

22 connected to the shaft 18. This grooved collar" is engaged by a forked arm es Figsland'9). The forked arm i's'conn v I with a shaft 24, which carries a beveledjgean 25 .(see Fig. l).-

beveled gearengages' a. beveled gear 26 loosely.mounted'; atthe; top of the m0torand preferab1y at thevertical central axis of tliegear 141. The beveled pinion 27 also engages the pinion QG-"and is wimectediby a aftes with" a'han'dlQBS) ns',

placed at some accessib1efpoint,as at the 4 side of the machine .(see Figs. 1 fand'5), It* I noted that when the handle29-isro tated-in one direction. the shaft'28 wil-l be rotated, and this willjrotat'e vthe' pinion "27; and the pinion 26 and the -pi nion25,thns r'oitating the shaft 24, thereby. moving the I forked arm 23 up or down, depending on the directionof the movement ofthe handle, I and this motes the sl a ft"18 up or down. Vhen the sliaft 18 is moved upwardly from the positioni shown inv Figure 9 the-projections; 21 conneet with the pinion 17 ,and if the -motor is in operation this moves the moyable end portions outwardly so as to 130' v39 on the surface along which the truck is.

cause them to be pushed under the wheels and lift the automobile, as shown in Fig. After the automobile has been lifted, the handle 29 is rotated in a direction to move the shaft 18 stillfurther upwardly so as'to disconnect the projections '21 from the pinion 17, which latter movement will seat the projection or projections 30.0n the shaft 18 (see Fig; 9) in the recess or recesses 1n thebevled pinion 31 .1oo sely mounted on 35. The beveled gear 35 is connectedwith- -a shaft or axlej37 carrying a tooth or rack wheel 38, which engages a toothpart or rack to be moved. I prefer, also, to provide another tooth or rack wheel 40 and a shaft or axle 41, which is connected'by a suitable belt 42 with. the axle 37. I prefer to use sprocket wheels on the axles and achain belt, although any other form of driving connection can be used. It will thus be seen that when the shaft 18 is moved a suflicient dis- 'tance upwardly (see Fig. 9) so .as'to engage I the projection or proj'ect1ons'30 with the gear wheel 31, when the motor is in operation,

there will be, a driving connection to the tooth'or rack wheels 38 and 40, such connection being through the gears 31 and 32,

' axle or shaft 41. Under these conditions shaft 33, gears34 and 35, axle 37, belt 42 and the truck will be moved along the surface.

I prefer to provide the truck with wheels or rotatable parts so that it may roll easily along the surface. These may be wheelsor of any other desired construction In order directions, say forward and back and crosswise or laterally, I prefer to provide the truck at each corner'with the balls 43, 44, 45 and 46. These ballsare mounted in suitable sockets and are preferably provided with ball bearings47. The halls are held in place by the holding pieces 48 (see Fig.8), which preferably provide a snug lit and which also act to scrape off any material that may adhere to the balls. I tracks 48 and 49 for the wheels of the truck,

I also prefer to provide these tracks crossing each other at proper in-' tervals wherever it is desired to move the automobile.

Some means is provided for transferring the truck from one track to another. I prefer to provide a means, for example, of transferring the truck from one track to another at an angle thereto without changing the relative position of the automobile, as it is important,-;in properly placing the autowhich by the saine position. In the construction here- .mobiles in the building, to have them all in in shown I securethi's result-by the follow- 8 ing means: I provide-in proximity to the intersection of the tracks a turntable 50. It

will be noted that this turntable is smaller than the truck and that the truck itself'is not placed upon the turntable. The turntable has the racks upon it, and when the truck is brought to the intersection of two tracks the rack wheels IQftllB truck engage oneof these racks. The motor 15 and associated parts' of the truck' are mounted upon arotatable frame 51 (see Fig.- 5), which is rotatably mounted in the main frame. The rotatable fra-me 51'is providedwith recesses into which the supporting projection 52 on the stationaryframe piece 53' projects. It will thus be seen that the frame 51, carrying the motor and associated mechanism, can be; rotated on the stationarypiece 53. This tota'tion may be produced in any desired manner, but purpose-and I have shown one mechanism for doing this. In this construction I provide' a toothed partor wheel 54 (see Figs. 1, 5 and 6'). .This-toothedipart is located be prefer to use'the motor for this neath the gear 14 and is connected with the 5 I rotating frame 51. The. gear 1'4-preferably .has guides 14; which engage projections 14 on the frame at'interval ,and within these projections are prefera ly gaged by a pinion 55 (seeFigs. 5 and 9).

18 and is providediwith an opening or openprovided ball .bearmgs 14. The toothed part 54 i ings for the projections 210111 the shaft 18.

\Vhen it isdesired to rotate-the tumtable, the handle 29 is turned until the shaft 18 is lowered so that the projections. 21 engage the recesses in the-pinion 55, as shown in 9, and the shaft 18 will be disconnected with respect to the vgears '17 and 31. If, now, the motor is operated, the shaft18 will be turned and this will turn the pinion 55,

its engagement with the toothed part or wheel 54 will turn this part and also I the rotatable frame 51. The engagement of the rack wheels with the racks will cause the turntable to be turnedwith the rotatable frame 51. I prefer to provide the racks with upwardly projecting parts at the side to "insure this turn, as shown in Figs. 5and 6. Itwill thus be seen'that when it is desired to transfer the truck from one track to .atrack at an angle thereto it is only necessaryto move the truck to the point where the'wheels or balls will be opposite the tracks at an angle, an'd then move the handle 29 so as to connect the shaft 18 with the pinion 55, whereupon the frame with the motor and also, the turntablewil-l be rotated until the rack in engagement-with the rack wheels is nected irbuiiiiiesiiaiaby 'mbt-iiigitiie liandie 29 andthefrotation' ofthe parts stopped. {In

this purpose, th'e'. balls having, as it were, a

uni ve'rsal 'movement;

Thejpart's are preferably arranged so that u ofthe building, the runways 63. "When a machiueis driven into the building on the the handle?!) can; be moved toa position where neither the pinions 17 and nor gear '3lfu ill beconneoted with the shaft-18. prefer, also, to provide an-indicator 56 5301,

the handlel 29, which will bemark'ed with the various positions into which'the handle is to, be moved,'as shown, for-example, 1n

. I Fig. 16; This indicatorffor example, would.

i have marked'i on it the various positions of the handle, one being the posit on whereinthe and pieces are moved outwardly'to-enagage the wheels of the thick-anothrbein the position of the handle when ,the trucfi' is to' bemoved along the track, and another: being the position otthe handle when'theturntable -is"to,;be rot'ated. -It\will thus be seen that whenthe turntable is rotated the motor and'the rotatable frame 'will be ro-. .ftated butthe mainframe of the truck will remain "stationary, and the automobile, be

fingfsupported upon the main frame, will also remain stationary and'will'always be in the same'relative position regardlessof the track upon'which the-truck. moves, this pof sition being parallel withthe track upon' which the truck rests .is placed upon it.

.I have -shown one means of drivingthe truck for purposes of illustration, but it is, vof :course, evident that any other suitablei means may be used. I prefer, however,.to'

use the racks and tracks, as this obviates the necessity of guiding the truck and insures the automobile. alway b in m Safely and 'to'the prope iti If, now, it is desiredto store automobiles this can be done invarious ways. I have shown in. Figs. '14 and. 15 one particular constructionfor' this purpose, order to show the'ease and accuracy with whichthe 60, into whichthe-automobilesare driven.

5 At the side of these driveways arepassenger construction there are driveways 58,- 59' and landing platforms 61. At suitable intervals there are provided elevators 62 These ele vators, in the particular construction-shown,

are arranged so that the automobiles may:

bebodily moved laterally or sidewise in -and .1; .bothsides' andal'so endwise out of one i' ic n eva er -beieg f mbly fi 1 mom or the eounterweightsof the elevators, It 7" 0 .acertain portion: of the floor is takenupaby driveways and platforms,the upper floors, shown in Fig.- 15, are free from' any such when the automobilel e oeth'erj soi- -ia's". to 'providebetween be noted that. while on the ground floor fen-a0mge1evatoattaahelemitters:.-

driveways. There are, howeveiy jon the upper floors between thele'lev'ators, lengthwise lower floor it' is .run opposite one of theelevators and one of theft-racks is then placedunder it and. the movable end portionsmoved out under the wheels to lift the automobile.

"wise, as the case may be," and the automobile moved to its properstorage place, the

-. turntable being usedwherevernecessary for 1 w thispurp'os'e, there preferably being a turntable adjacent each intersection 'of the tracks.

The truck is then removed from under it t moved back upon the elevator, and can then'bejag'ain used. The automobiles maybe placed upon thetruc {S at any point desired and the-truck then run off the elevator, and the elevators-and storage. arrangements may.

be arranged to suit the conditions. It will be seen by' examining Figs. 14. and 15'that any automobile, 64,- 1n the building can be taken outand'taken down the elevator with- ;out interfering with any of the other-automobiles; and this regardless-of the. time when it is placed-in'itsreceiving-space. This isdue tothe fact that although the automo-- biles are l d i thestorage. spaces ide by side andalsoi-onje in front of the other,

the particular" automobile desired may be. removed by mounting the same upon the truck and .moving the, automobile sidewise, thereby dispensing withlthev necessity of turning the ear and working the same out of the storage space.

The pivotedwheel-engaging'parts on the movable end-pieces'have their pivots neartheouter'end, so that'when the outer ends engage the automobile wheels-.they will-tip down but when thewwheels a'rein position equilibrium, as shown in Fig; 3.-

is, of course, evident that the parts may be upon them "they will tip back soasto be in varied in many particulars without departmg .from'the spirit of my invention as embodied in the claims hereto appended, and I therefore do not limit myself to'the par-' 'ticular n ruction shown.-

T It will-be noted that by my method of, storing. automobiles I first take the automo-" biles and pla'ce them all inthe same general position. with their longitudinal center lines running in th'e same direction with relation to the building and then I transfer them to and in the same position as it was when the storage movement began.

I claim: v r

1. An apparatus for handlin automobiles, comprising a truck, whee engaging 'pieces connected with said truck and bodily movable with relation to said truck, and

means for moving the piecesfoutwardly so as to cause them to project under the wheels face on which it rests.

2. An apparatus for handling automoqbiles, comprising a truck, movable members connected with said truck, and means for moving'the said members outwardly so as to cause them to project under the wheels of' the automobile and lift it free of the surface on which it rests,'said members provided with freely movable wheel-engaging parts adapted to move with relation to the said members so as to freely pass under the wheels of the automobile.

. 3. An apparatus for handling automo biles, comprising atruck, movable members connected with said truck, andmeans for moving the said members outwardly so as to cause them to project under the wheels of the automobile and lift it free of the surface on which it rests, said members having pivoted wheel-engaging parts by which they are connected to the said members, the pivots being near the outer ends 'of the wheel-engaging parts. I

4. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a truck, provided with a frame, movable members connected with said frame, means for moving the said members outwardly so as to cause-them to project under the wheels of the' automobile and lift it free of the surface on which it rests, means for driving the truckand meansfor changing the direction of movement ofthe truck while the relative position of the automobile-upon it remains the same. i I

5. An apparatus forhandling automobiles, comprising a supporting frame, wheels upon which it is supported, movable members connected to said frame, a rotatable frame mounted upon the supporting frame, a motor onthe rotatable frame, and an operative connectionbetween said anotor and said members.

6. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a supporting frame, wheels upon which it is supported, movable members connected to said frame, a rotatable frame mounted upon the supporting frame, a motor on the rotatable frame, an operative connect-ion between said motor and said members, and means for rotating said rotat= able frame'while the motor and the movable members remain connected.

7. An apparatus for handling automobiles, comprising a supporting frame, wheels uponwhich it issupported, movable members connected to said frame, a rotatable frame mounted upon the supporting frame,

a motor on the rotatable frame, an operative connection between sald motor and said members, means-forerotating said rotatable frame while the motor and the movable members remain connected, intersecting tracks upon which the truck runs, a turnof the automobile and lift it free of the sur'y table at'the intersection of the tracks, and means for rotating the turntable and the rotating frame independently of the truck.

8, An apparatus for handling "automobiles, comprising a supporting frame, wheels upon which it is supported, movable memf' bers connected to said frame, a rotatable fr'ame mounted upon the supporting frame,

a motor on the rotatable frame, an operati've connection between said motor and said members, means forrotating said rotatable frame while the motor and the movable =members remain. connected, intersecting tracks upon which the truck runs, a turntable at the intersection of the tracks, racks associated with said tracks andsaid turn table, a rack wheel engaging said rack on the turntable when the truck is over it, and means for rotating the rotating frameupon thetsupporting frame soas to rotate" the turntable to transfer the truck from one track to the other. I

9. vAn apparatus for handling automo biles, comprising a truck adapted to be moved under the automobile, means asso- 'c'iated with the truck for lifting the automobile from the, ground and supporting it .on the truck, said means embodying wheel engaging surfaces adjustable with relation to the truck, means for simultaneously adjustinga plurality of said surfaces with respect to the truck, and means for'moving said truck to the storage place for the aumobile ftlierefrom.

'tomobile'gand then disconnecting the auto- 1 on the various floors of; the building, tracks,

on said elevators registering with the tracks on the floor, turntables at the intersection of the intersecting tracks, racks extending along said tracks and across said turntables,

a truck upon which the automobile is re ceived working on saidtracks and provided with driving means connected with said racks, the turntables being smaller than the trucks so as not to be engaged by the supporting wheels thereon, and means for ro tating any given turntable when the truck center linesin a definite po sition rel "tion to the building; then transferring said automobiles to storage spaces anddepoisiting them in the storage 'spaces 'withtheii 1on -1s in proper relation theretoso as to transfer a the truck from one track-1110 another.

l-LlMeans for han and storing'autm floor divided into storage e 8 truck 1 he autonfobile adapted to be moved j and having a frame, laterally-'moving mem bers connected 'withsaidi'frame and 10" a transferring said truck storage spaces;

mobile wheels toljft' the m fir A, "method of storing 'autoinobilcs which consists in placing the automobiles a given position With'their longitudinal gitu'dina'l center substantially the same relative ositiomhmf. i

13."A method oftomobiles which consists infiplacing theautomobiles in a given position withzftheir longitudinal center lines in a definite 'positioniwithrelzi for changing whilethe directlons 17; .An apparatus for handling vehicles,-

ture PM to be positionedunder the Ve cle, lwheel portions carried by the truck for movementtherewith andwith .mespectthemto, means for moving the said wheel portions with relation to v the truck and into to'be moved into engagement wlthrthe aut {portingJ e-same b means of said truck,

1 or propel]ing the truck,

J the direction of movement of the true ofmovement oi the said wheel engaging portions with to the truck remain con- 18,4111 apparatus ior-handlingvehicles,

p the "lv e hi cle wheel'engaging portions.

7 and with respect to the truck,

' for moving the said {:w eel portionsfinto'engagement viiitht-he 'vehiclcwheels for; raising the vehi- 5 and "suppbrtingthe same by means of tionto the building, the ttuckypower jniechanism common to automobiles to a the various spaces without chan'ging during the transfer the relative position ,withrelationtothe blllldr.

ingot the longitudinal centerlines of said automobiles. v .1 1 114, An apparatus for. handling vehicles,

said apparatus embodying atruck' -Jike structure adapted to-bfe positioned the vehicle, wheel e gaging portions carried "both of-the said. operating mechanisms for actuating-them, and means for selectively controlling the said operating mechanisms, 19. a'self contained portable apparatus .ior handlingvehicles embodying atruck 'lihe structure,-operating mechanism {or proapparatus embodyinga'truck'like strucd mechanism for propelling the truck, vehicle wheel engaging portions movable with and with respect'to the tr:uck, operating mechanism for moving the truck for movement therewith andf-wi j the saidengaging portions into en- "truck respect thereto, and'jileans for movingl the saidwheel engaging portions withfrelation 15. An apparatus for handling 1 said apparatus "embodying a wheel supported truck "like structure adaptedto be positioned under the vehicle, wheel engaggagement with the vehicle wheels for raismg the'vehicle and supporting the same by means of the truck, power mechanism common to bothof the .said operating mecha; nismsfor actuatin selectively "controlling the said operating mechamsms' them, and: means for T 20. A. portabletapparatus for handlirig vehicles a truck like structure, propelling means for the truck, means caring portions carried by the truck for move- -ried yithe tru k-f r movem t t r with ment therewith and. withre t; thereto,

'and means for moving thesaid wheel en gaging portions with-relation to the truck and into engagement with the vehiclewheels for elevating the vehicle and supporting the same b means of said truck.

a 16. apparatus for handling vehicles; said apparatusiembodying a truck like structure adapted to be'positioned' under the vehi-' cle, wheel engaging portions carried by the truck for movement f therewith and-with respect thereto, means for moving'thesaid wheel. engaging portions relation to the truck and into engagementwith'the vehicle wheelsfor elevating the vehicle and supportingt-he same by means of said truck, and driving mechanism for propelling the truck.

and with respect thereto and adapted to 911- the true}; for

truck for movement therewith" and the peripheries of the vehicle wheels for elevating the-vehicle and? supporting the the truck, means-Ito; changing the direction of movement of the tr'uc'li, the last recited 4 means embodying provisions adapting a portion of the truck for rotation about its own axis, and means for selectively controlling the said propelling means and the direction of movement changing means.

22. A portable apparatus for handling vehicles embodying a truck like structure, propelling means for the truck, means carried by the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto and adapted toengage the peripheries of the vehicle wheels for elevating the vehicle and supporting the same from the truck, means for changing the di rection of movement of the truck,.th e last recited means embodying provisions adapting a portion of the truck for rotation about its own axis, and mechanism embodying means common to all of the aforesaid means'for selectively controlling them.

23. A portable apparatus for handling vehicles embodying a truck like structure, propelling means for the truck, means carried by the'truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto and adapted to engage nected with the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto, and means operating to separate the wheel engaging means or the respective pairs and force them into contact with the peripheries of the respective wheels of the vehicle Wheels and thereby elevate the vehicle from the supporting surface and support the vehicle from the truck. 25; An apparatus for handling vehicles embodying a truck like structure, opposed pairs of vehicle wheel engaging means con-- nected with the truck for movement therewith and with respect thereto, means operating to separate the wheel engaging means of the. respective pairs and force them into contact with the peripheries ofthe respective wheels of the vehicle wheels and thereby elevate the vehicle from the supporting surface and support the vehicle from the truclgpower mechanism for propelling the truck,.and means for operatively connecting the said power mechanism with the said vehicle wheel engaging means at will.

26. The method of storing motor vehicles in a building which consists in providing a plurality of vehicle storage spaces, then positioning the vehicles adjacent the storage spaces .on the floor or ground and then bodily moving the vehicles laterally from such position and into the said space.

27. The nethod of storing motor vehicles in a building which consists in providing a plurality of vehicle storage spaces, then positioning the vehicles adjacent-the storage spaces and within a driveway extendin past ,said spaces, and then bodily moving t e vehicles laterally from the driveway and into the spaces so that the length of the vehicles will extend in a general direction lengthwise of the driveway. i

28. The method of storing motor vehicles in a building which consists in providing a plurality of vehicle storage spaces, then successively positioning the vehicles adjacent opposed storage spaces and within a drive: way extending past said storage spaces, and then bodily moving the vehicles laterally from the driveway into either of said storagespaces so that the length of the vehicles in said spaces will extend in a general direction lengthwise of the driveway.

29. Themethod of storing motor vehicles in a building which consists in providing a plurality of vehicle 7 storage spaces, then successively positioning the vehicles adjacent opposed storage spaces and within a driveway extending past said storage spaces, and

then bodily moving the, vehlcles laterally from the driveway into either of said storage spaces, the vehicles in the respective spaces being arranged side by side and being positioned in the spaces so that the length of all of the vehicles will extend in a general direction lengthwise of the driveway.

30. The method-of storing motor vehicles in a building involvin with a driveway extending along said section at one edge thereof, which consists in providing a plurality of vehicle storage spaces, then successively and bodily moving the vehicles laterally :trom'the driveway and into the storage space and arranging the vehicles side by side in said space while the position of the length of the vehicles with respect to the general direction of the length of the driveway remains substantially unchanged. I

Signed at Chica o county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 10th day of August 1922.

FREDERICK P. DINKELBERG.

e a storage section 

